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RestoringRestoring LongLong Connecticut River River IslandIsland Thames ’s River Sound’s Stonington HabitatsHabitats Old Saybrook

COMPLETED RESTORATION SITES IN PROGRESS RESTORATION SITES POTENTIAL RESTORATION SITES PROJECT BOUNDARY RIVER SOUND Greenwich

2002 RESTORATION SITES Southold BLUE INDICATES COMPLETED SITE – CONSTRUCTION ON THE PROJECT IS FINISHED, BUT MONITORING MAY BE ON-GOING GREEN INDICATES IN PROGRESS SITE– SOME PHASE OF THE PROJECT IS UNDERWAY, E.G. APPLYING FOR FUNDING, DESIGN, OR CONSTRUCTION BLACK INDICATES POTENTIAL SITE – A RESTORATION PROJECT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED, NO ACTION TAKEN YET MOUNT VERNON RYE BOLDFACE IN ALL COLORS INDICATES HIGH-RANKED SITES Rye Glover Field (FW) Beaver Swamp Brook (FW) Beaver Swamp Brook/Cowperwood site (FW) Brookhaven NEW ROCHELLE Blind Brook (FW) Echo (TW/SR/IF/RI) Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary (TW/F/EE/FW) CONNECTICUT Former Dickerman’s Pond (FW) Marshlands Conservancy (TW/F/IF) (TW) EW ORK Nature Study Woods (F/FW) Farm River tributary/Edgemere Rd. (TW) N Y Pryer Manor Marsh (TW) SMITHTOWN BRANFORD Morris Creek/Sibley Lane (TW) Callahan’s Beach (CB) Branford River STP (TW) New Haven Airport (TW) Bronx BRONX NORTH HEMPSTEAD Fresh Pond (FW/F/BD) Branford R./Christopher Rd. (TW) Nissequogue Bronx Reefs (SR) Baxter Estates Pond (FW) Harrison Pond Town Park (FW/RMC/TW/F) Branford R./St. Agnes Cemetery (TW) EAST LYME mouth (TW/F/RMC) Hempstead (EE/IF/TW) Landing Avenue Town Park (TW) Branford R./Hickory Rd. (TW) Brides Brook Culvert (RMC/TW) River Bronx River Trailway (TW/FW/F/RMC) Lake Success (FW) Long Beach (BD) Branford R. tributary/Mill Creek (TW) Crescent Park/Manwaring Rd. (TW) Huntington City Island Marsh (TW) Leed’s Pond (FW) /Riviera Dr., Kings Park Farm River (TW) Fourmile River Dam (RMC) (TW) Manhassett Bay (EE/TW/IF) (TW/FW/RMC) Farm R. tributary/Pent Rd. (TW) Indian Pond (EE) Point Park (G/BD) Mitchell Creek (TW) Nissequogue River/Village of Nissequogue Farm R. tributary/Cynthia Ct. (TW) National Guard camp (TW) Shoreline (TW) Mott’s Cove (TW) (TW/FW/RMC) Flying Point/Prospect Hill Rd. (TW) Old Black Point Spit (BD/F) /DOT property (TW) Sheets Creek (TW) Schubert Beach (BD) Juniper Point (TW) Upper Pattagansett River (TW) Oak Point Freightyards (TW/IF/fisheries Whitney Pond Park (FW) St. James Wetland #SJ16 (FW) Lindsey Cove east (TW) (SAV) habitat) Stony Brook Harbor (TW/IF) Lindsey Cove west/Castle Rock (TW) Palmer Inlet (TW) OYSTER BAY Sunken Meadow Creek (TW/BD/IF) Pages Cove north (Short Beach) (TW) EAST WINDSOR/ENFIELD Lagoon (TW/F) Bayville Wetland #B-7 (TW/FW) Sweetbriar Nature Center (G/TW/FW) Pages Cove (Killan’s Point) (TW) (RMC) Pugsley Creek (TW) Beaver Brook/Shu Swamp (FW) Young’s Island (TW/IF) Pine Orchard golf course (TW) Rice Stadium Wetlands (TW/G/F) Beaver Lake (FW) Sybil Creek (TW) ESSEX (FW/F/CB) Beekman Beach (BD/TW/IF/SAV) SOUTHOLD Tabor Drive Marsh (TW) Dennison Pond Dam (RMC) (TW) Centre Island Beach (BD/TW) Bailie’s Beach Park (BD/TW) Three Elms Rd. (TW) Great Meadows (TW) Turtle Cove (TW) Cold Spring Ponds (Huntington Wetland #H-1) Clark’s Beach/Inlet Pond (BD/CB) Tilcon Wetland (TW) Thatchbed Island (TW) Weir Creek (TW) (TW/IF/FW) Darby Cove (TW) Ward’s Millpond/Branford River W.M.A. (TW) Glen Cove Creek (TW) Goldsmith Inlet Beach (BD/TW/F/IF) (RMC/FW) FAIRFIELD Hicksville Mill Pond (FW) Great Pond (FW) West Point Road (TW) , (TW) BROOKHAVEN (EE/IF/TW) Greenport Wetland #GP11 (FW) Lower Ash Creek/Kenard St. (TW) Aunt Amy’s Creek (FW/TW) Huntington Wetlands #H2-H7 (FW) Mattituck Creek (TW/IF) BRIDGEPORT Fairfield Creek/Grasmere (TW) Cedar Beach (BD) Mill Pond (FW) Mattituck Hills Wetlands #MH1& MH2 (FW) Ash Creek/Rooster River (TW) /Samp Mortar Lake Dam (RMC) STRATFORD WEST HAVEN Cedar Beach boat ramp, east side (BD/TW/IF) Oyster Bay Mill Pond (FW) Mattituck Wetland #MT20 (FW) Bunnells Pond (RMC) Mill River/Tide Mill Dam (RMC) Avco-Lycoming field (TW) Club Creek (TW) Crystal Brook Inlet (TW/FW) Oyster Bay NWR (TW) Orient Point Park (G/F/CB/RI) Grover Hill (TW) Penfield and Beach Roads (FW) OLD LYME ORANGE Bridgeport Airport (TW) Cove River (TW) Former Old Man’s Boatyard site (TW) Prospect Point to Sands Point Preserve (BD) Orient Wetland #O1 (FW) (BD) Penfield Reef (SR) Big Pond (TW) Housatonic River/sand & gravel pits (RMC) Carting/Peacock Islands (TW) Old Field Creek (TW) Hagerman Landing Road Groin (BD/CB/IF) Red Spring Point Bluffs (CB) Orient Wetland #O14 (FW) Yellow Mill Channel to Stillman Pond (RMC) Perrys Millpond (TW) (TW) East Johnson Creek/north Lewis Gut mouth (TW) Oyster River/north of New Haven Ave. (TW) McAllister County Park (FW/BD/FW/IF) Scudders Pond (FW) Peconic Dunes Wetland Complex (FW) Pine Creek East (TW) Calves Island (TW) PRESTON Farmill River (TW) Sandy Point (BD) Mount Sinai Harbor (TW/EE/IF) Stehli Beach / Frost Creek Wetlands (TW/BD/IF) Southold Wetland #SO28 (FW/F) CHESTER Sasco Brook Dam (RMC) MERIDEN NAUGATUCK River (TW) Hallville Pond Dam (RMC) Ferry Creek (TW) Treatment Plant wetland (TW) North Shore Horse Showgrounds (TW/IF) West Pond (TW) Southold Wetland #SO30 (FW/F) Carini Preserve (RMC) South Pine Creek/Par 3 golf course (TW) Hanover Pond Dam (RMC) Union City Dam (RMC) Finnegan Farm Lane (TW) Poquetanuck Cove (F/TW) Frash Pond (EE) (TW/RMC) Pipe Stave Hollow/Chandler Estate Swale Wolf Pit Lake (FW) West of marina/Turney Road (TW) HADDAM Fourmile River Dam (RMC) Route 2A bridge (TW) Great Meadows/north of Lordship Blvd.(TW) (TW/FW/CB/F/IF) PELHAM CLINTON Higganum Creek (RMC) MIDDLETOWN NEW HAVEN (TW) Great Meadows/south of Lordship Blvd.(TW) WESTBROOK Port Jefferson Village Beaches (BD) Glover Field (TW) Chapman’s Pond Dam (RMC) GREENWICH Rutty Creek (TW) Lower Mill Pond Dam (RMC) Hemingway Creek (TW) Great & Upper Islands (TW) SEYMOUR Long Island (TW) Chapmans Pond Dam (RMC) Satterly Landing (TW) Clinton Harbor (SAV/SR/TW) Greenwich Cove Dr. (TW) Salmon River (RMC) Savage Mill Dam (RMC) Long Wharf Flats (IF) Griswold Point (BD) Kinneytown Dam (RMC) Long Beach (BD) Hammock River (TW) Setauket Mill Pond (FW/F/IF/TW) QUEENS Hammock River (TW) Greenwich Point Park (TW) Starr Millpond/ (RMC) Mill River east bank/south of RR tracks (TW) (TW) Tingue Dam (RMC) Peck’s Millpond (FW) McVeagh Dam (RMC) Shoreham Plant Wetlands (TW/BD) (FW/TW) tributary (TW) Mead Point Dr. (TW) HAMDEN Mill River, north of I-91 (RMC/EE/TW) Lord Cove (TW) Pope Island (TW) (BD) Shoreham Point (TW) Aurora Pond (FW/F) Indian River (TW) marshes (TW) MILFORD Morris Creek/Lighthouse Pt. (TW) Lower McColloch Dam (RMC) SHELTON Russian/Lordship Beach (BD) Menunketesuck River (TW) Stony Brook Creek & Pond (TW/FW) (TW) Indian River south of RR track (TW) GROTON West bank of Mill River (RMC/FW) Beaver Brook (TW/FW) Park/Forbes Bluff (CB) Pond Road/Soundview (TW) Derby Dam (RMC) Sikorsky and Ryders Lane marshes (TW) Patchogue River (TW) Stony Brook Harbor (TW) College Point Creek (TW) YPES OF ABITATS Upper Mill Pond Dam (RMC) Birch Plain Creek (TW) Calf Pen Meadow Creek (TW) New Haven Airport (TW) Rogers Lake (RMC) Housatonic River/sand & gravel pits (RMC) Quotonset Beach (TW) Unnamed Creek & Pond (FW) College Point tidal creek (TW) T H Bluff Point Natural Area Preserve (F) LEDYARD (F) Pond Lily Dam (RMC) Saltworks Point (TW) Farmill River (RMC) WALLINGFORD Westbrook Town Beach (BD) Wading River (TW/F/FW/BD/IF) (G) BD Beaches and Dunes CROMWELL Bluff Point Coastal Reserve (TW) Poquetanuck Cove (TW/F) Clark Pond Dam (RMC) Quinnipiac River Marsh (TW) Upper Mill Pond Dam (RMC) Upper Quinnipiac River Dam (RMC) Wading River Wetland #W7 (FW) (FW/G/F) Cromwell Meadows (RMC) Bluff/Bushy Point Beach (BD) Dredge mining sites (RMC) West River Salt Marsh (TW) White Sands Beach, west (TW) SPRAGUE Wallace Dam/Community Lake Dam (RMC) WESTPORT Wading River Wetland #W9 (FW) Timber Structures (fisheries CB Cliffs and Bluffs Haley Farm (G) LYME (TW) Versailles Pond Dam (RMC) Wharton Brook State Park (F/G) Cockenoe Island (F) West Meadow Beach (BD) habitat) EE Estuarine Embayments DARIEN Hyde Pond Dam (RMC) Ed Bills Pond Dam (RMC) Great Creek Marsh (TW) NEW LONDON OLD SAYBROOK Greens Farm Brook (TW) West Meadow Creek (TW/IF/EE) Flushing Bay/Flushing Creek (TW) Marsh (TW) Mumford Cove (BD) Hamburg Cove (SAV) Great Flat (TW) Mitchell College (BD) Ayers Road (TW) STAMFORD WATERBURY Grove Point/Sherwood Millpond (TW) Flushing Meadow-Corona Park- Willow Lake F Coastal and Island Forests Gorhams Pond (EE/RMC) (SAV) Nott Island (TW) Hilldale Road area (TW) Beamon Creek (TW) Holly Pond (RMC/EE) Anaconda Dam (RMC) Lees Pond (RMC) HUNTINGTON (TW/FW/CB) Holly Pond (RMC/EE) Noyes Property (TW) Lord Cove (TW) Howard Ct./Morehouse Ave. (TW) NORTH HAVEN Chalker Millpond Dam (RMC) Kosciuszco Park (TW/IF) Freight Street Dam (RMC) North of Sherwood Millpond and I-95 (TW) Betty Allen Nature Park (FW/TW) Shrub Swamp (FW) FW Freshwater Wetlands at I-95 (RMC) Spencer Point (TW) Lower Pond Dam (RMC) Indian River between I-95 and railroad track Quinnipiac River north (TW) Cold Spring Brook /Chalker Beach (TW) Main Street Dam (RMC) Sasco Brook (TW) Centerport Ponds (TW/FW/IF) (TW/FW/CB/IF) G Coastal Grasslands North Scott Cove-Arrowhead Way (TW/EE) Willow Point (TW) (TW) Quinnipiac River south (TW) Ferry Rd. east (TW) Noroton River at I-95 (RMC) WATERFORD Sasco Brook Dam (RMC) Cold Spring Harbor (TW/BD/F/CB/IF) Hallets Cove (TW) MADISON Milford Point (BD) Ferry Rd. north (TW) Stamford Marine Center/Magee Ave (TW) Alewife Cove (EE/SAV) Dam (RMC) Cold Spring Ponds (Huntington Wetland #H-1) (G) IF Intertidal Flats GUILFORD Oyster River (TW) Brook Dam (RMC) Gardner Pond north (TW) DEEP RIVER Bailey Creek (TW) NORWALK Saugatuck River north of Route 1 (TW) (TW/IF/FW) Powell’s Cove Shoreline (TW/BD) RI Rocky Intertidal Piano Works Dams (RMC) (TW) Fence Creek (TW) Rogers Ave./Milford Harbor tributary (TW) Chimon Island (F) Hagar Creek (TW) STONINGTON Goshen Cove (EE) Sherwood Millpond (EE/TW) Meadow (TW/FW/BD/IF) Steinway Creek Enhancement (TW) Pratt Cove (TW) Grass Island (TW) Seaview Beach (TW/BD) Seabreeze Ave./Merwin Ave. (TW) Flock Process Dam (RMC) Knollwood (TW) Collins Rd. Marsh (TW) Harkness Memorial State Park (TW) Fresh Pond (FW/F/BD) Tallman Island (TW) RMC Riverine Migratory Landon Dam (RMC) Hammonasset River north (TW) Turkey Hill Brook (TW) Harborview (TW) Lynde Point (TW) (SAV) Jordan Millpond Dam (RMC) WILTON Hecksher Park Pond (FW) The Alley@Alley Pond Park (FW/F/TW/CB/IF) Corridors EAST HADDAM Leetes Island (TW) Hammonasset S.P./Tom’s Creek (TW) Welches Point Rd. (TW) Indian River (RMC) Lynde Point (BD) Lords Point (TW) Millers Pond Dam (RMC) Cannondale Dam (RMC) Lloyd Harbor Wetland #L17 (FW) Western College Point creeks (TW) Chapman Pond (TW) Lost Lake (TW) Hammonasset S.P./filled wetland (TW) Wheeler Marsh (TW) NE Wilson Cove (TW) Mill Meadows (TW) Mystic River (SAV) Niantic Bay Barrier (BD) Merwin Meadows (RMC) Mariner’s Inn (TW/BD) SAV Submerged Aquatic Salmon River (RMC) Old Quarry Rd./Hoadley Neck (TW) Kelsey Place (TW) West of sand and gravel company (TW) /Perry Ave. flood gate (RMC) North Cove (TW) Quiambog Cove (TW) Niantic Bay northeast (TW) Tidal Basin on Lloyd Neck (TW/BD) RIVERHEAD Vegetation Seaside Avenue (TW) Neck River/Garnet Park Rd. (TW) West side of Gulf Pond (TW) Oyster Creek (TW) Otter Cove (TW) (F) Niantic River (SAV) WINDSOR Twin Ponds Park (TW/FW) Baiting Hollow (TW/FW/RMC) EAST HAVEN Sluice Creek (TW) Neck R. tributary (TW) Sheffield Island (BD) Ragged Rock/Ferry Rd. (TW) Velvet Mills (TW) Quaker Hill north (TW) Rainbow Dam (RMC) Mattituck Wetland #MT-1 (FW) SR Shellfish Reefs Caroline Creek between Minor and Vineyard Haven (TW) Selden Neck (TW) MONTVILLE Sheffield/Plains/Shea Island Complex (F) Ragged Rock Creek (TW) River Street (TW) MAMARONECK Shoreham Point (TW) TW Tidal Wetlands Stanton Rds. (TW) West River (RMC) Windy Brook Lane (TW) Trading Cove Brook (RMC) Silvermine R./Perry & Timber ponds (RMC) South Cove (EE/SAV) White Point (TW) Greacen Point (TW/IF) Wading River (TW/RMC/F/FW) Caroline Creek/Cosey Beach (TW) Upper West River (TW) Windy Brook Lane/east of golf course (TW) Village Creek (RMC/TW) South Cove, north section (TW) Hommock Marsh (TW) Wading River Wetland #W7 (FW) •• • • • • • Restoring ’s Habitats • • • • WHAT CAN I DO WHO ARE TO HELP RESTORE THE PARTNERS LONG ISLAND INVOLVED? WHY ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT LONG ISLAND WHAT TYPES OF HABITAT ARE BEING RESTORED? HOW ARE PROJECTS FUNDED? SOUND’S HABITATS? SOUND’S HABITATS? The Initiative has targeted twelve important habitat types in the Sound for their Project funding comes from several sources. The Initiative partners use the prioritized Substantial physical progress toward the habitat restoration goals has been made as The coastal habitats of Long Island Sound form support of living resources and water quality. Descriptions of the habitat types are list of candidate restoration sites to match projects to existing grant programs. Examples well. Since 1998, 336 acres and 39 river miles of Long Island Sound’s habitat have been l Sponsor or support local W US Environmental a unique and highly productive ecosystem found below. The abbreviations found after the names of the habitat types are used to of federal grant programs include the US Environmental Protection Agency’s 5-Star restored (Tables 1 & 2). Many of these projects have received grant funds due to the restoration projects Protection Agency that supports a diverse array of living denote which habitat types are found at the potential restoration sites listed on the Challenge Grant Program, the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Wildlife efforts of the Habitat Restoration Initiative partners. Increasing public awareness of resources. These living resources range other side of this page. The abbreviations are also used in the charts that track our Program, Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Wildlife Habitat Improvement the importance of healthy habitat has resulted in many local governments and l Volunteer for citizen W US Fish and from microscopic plants and animals progress. Program, and National Marine Fisheries Service’s Community Based Habitat Restoration non-governmental organizations taking part in habitat restoration projects. Many monitoring efforts Wildlife Service that drift with the currents to Grants. Examples of state-funded programs include Connecticut’s Coves and more projects addressing water quality improvements have been completed that will l Sponsor or participate in W economically important finfish, shellfish, BEACHES AND DUNES (BD) are the transitional sandy or cobble shoreline area between Embayments Restoration Program and the Long Island Sound License Plate Fund, and have an important indirect benefit on the Sound’s habitat. US Army Corps of and crustaceans. Other animals such as birds, sea the land and the Sound. These dynamic systems are in a constant state of erosion and New York’s Clean Water, Clean Air Bond Act and Environmental Protection Fund. Private clean-up projects on vacant lots, Engineers turtles, and marine mammals spend all or part of their lives in the deposition due to tidal action, currents, and wind. Dunes can protect adjacent low-lying grants from charitable institutions and the Connecticut Corporate public beaches, and roadsides Sound, on its shores, or in its watershed. While there is still healthy properties from flooding. Many rare plants and animals, such as prickly-pear cactus, Wetland Partnership may also be used to complete projects. In Table 1: ACRES OF HABITAT RESTORED, 1998 – 2001 l W NOAA National Adopt “Sound Gardening” habitat in and around Long Island Sound, there is little doubt that the golden-aster, beach heather, , and horned lark occur on this habitat some cases, agency staff may be able to simply add the needed Marine Fisheries practices - Contact New York overall abundance and diversity of habitats have been diminished by complex. work to their annual schedule of activities and complete the 2000 2008 Service GOAL Sea Grant at 631-727-3910 or incompatible human uses of the Sound and its resources. project with little or no additional cash funds. There are nearly as CLIFFS AND BLUFFS (CB) are steep coastal slopes of glacial sands and till that are created Connecticut Sea Grant many funding scenarios as there are projects to be done. It is the Table 2: MILES OF RIVERINE HABITAT RESTORED, 1998 – 2001 W USDA Natural Present-day habitat conditions are very different from those observed by through long-term wave erosion and sea-level rise. Rare plant communities, such as 1600 at 203-432-5188 for more job of the State Habitat Restoration Coordinators and the rest of the Resources the first colonists. One third of all tidal wetlands in the Sound have been New York’s dwarf beech forest, may be found here. 2008 information Habitat Restoration Workgroup to help get all the projects planned and 100 Conservation lost since the 1700s. Most of the remaining tidal wetlands have been GOAL COASTAL AND ISLAND FORESTS (F) located in the project area may be dominated by funded, and they are available to answer questions about funding. 1200 l Support habitat Service altered by mosquito ditching. Once plentiful, eelgrass beds disappeared species such as maple, oak, cedar, pine, and beech. No virgin tracts of old growth forest from the western and central portions of the Sound in the 1930s. Terrestrial 80 restoration and remain. Animals that may use this habitat include owls, bald eagles, and osprey. Forest PROGRESS TO DATE: protection funding W Connecticut habitats have been lost by clearing and filling for development. For 800 stands on islands are of particular importance to nesting colonial water birds, such as through license plate Department of example, 70 percent of Connecticut’s original forested area was clear cut A great deal of progress has been made toward the habitat restoration goals since they egrets and herons, because they are relatively free of predators. Forests provide shade ACRES RESTORED 60 funds, federal and state Environmental by the late 1800s. In the nearly 400 years since European settlers arrived, were adopted in 1998. In May of 2000, the Initiative partner agencies signed a and oxygen, and help influence the local climate. 400 336 duck stamp programs, Protection the radical alteration of the landscape has played a role in the decline of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which states that they all agree to work toward 179 39 and tax form the goals of the Initiative and share the responsibility for reaching those goals. A copy 61 70 40 the Sound. COASTAL GRASSLANDS (G) are open glacial outwash plains dominated by tall grasses, 26 W of the MOU can be found on the Long Island Sound Study web site at: 0 check-offs Connecticut such as little bluestem and switchgrass. They often have diverse wildflower communities 1998 1999 2000 2001 Total http://www.epa.gov/region01/eco/lis Sea Grant In the latter half of the twentieth century, scientists began to study the link as well. These areas are critical habitat for many rare and endangered species, such as 20 17 l Take photos of

between healthy habitat and healthy populations of fish and wildlife. Not the grasshopper sparrow and regal fritillary butterfly. Grasslands are also important to RIVER MILES RESTORED 9 6 7 restoration sites near W New York only do we need adequate acreage of habitats, but those habitats must be birds of prey like the short-eared owl. 0 you to document site State healthy and functioning properly to support a diverse and resilient 1998 1999 2000 2001 Total FRESHWATER WETLANDS (FW) are the transitional zone between the land and fresh conditions over time Department of population of the Sound’s living resources. To address these concerns, the water. These are areas where the water table is at, or near, the surface of the soil and Environmental Long Island Sound Study Habitat Restoration Initiative was created. HOW DO PROJECTS GET DONE? l Talk to your there is no tidal influence. They are very diverse and may be dominated by trees, such Conservation neighbors about the as red maple, and shrubs, such as swamp azalea, or herbs such as cattail. These wetlands Each potential restoration project listed on the reverse side of this sheet represents a discrete location around Long Island Sound’s shore or in the Sound’s watershed. The sites represent a variety of habitat types, landowners, and varying levels of importance of habitat aid in groundwater recharge and store flood waters. They are also critical habitat to complexity. High priority projects are targeted by the state and federal agencies in the annual work planning process. The descriptions of a few projects which have been completed are summarized below. Each description will show the steps involved W New York restoration Department HOW DOES THE LONG ISLAND SOUND STUDY many rare plant and animal species. in restoration projects. of State HABITAT RESTORATION INITIATIVE WORK? ESTUARINE EMBAYMENTS (EE) are confined areas of the Sound that have narrow inlets and significant freshwater inflow. They are generally more shallow than the open WHERE CAN I LEARN W New York Sea Grant As recommended in the Long Island Sound Study’s Comprehensive GRASSLAND RESTORATION RIVERINE MIGRATORY CORRIDOR RESTORATION Conservation and Management Plan, habitat restoration is being Sound, and the restricted flow causes greater sedimentation. These areas are important SOUTHOLD, N.Y LYME, CT MORE ABOUT HABITAT nurseries for finfish and are concentration sites for wildlife. The best bay RESTORATION AND W coordinated through the Long Island Sound Study Habitat production occurs in estuarine embayments. Project Description: Orient Point County Park is owned by the Suffolk County Project Description: Along the , a tributary to LONG ISLAND SOUND? Department of Restoration Initiative, a partnership of concerned agencies and Department of Parks and Recreation. The park displayed favorable soil conditions the , a dam was obstructing fish passage at organizations working together to improve the Sound for the INTERTIDAL FLATS (IF) are shallow areas of bays and that lay between the to restore the old agricultural fields on site to a coastal grassland community. Ed Bill’s Pond. A steeppass fishway was constructed Environmental Please visit these web sites: Protection living resources that depend on it. With funding from the EPA spring high- and low-tide marks. These flats contain no rooted vegetation. The Work on the 50-acre parcel was divided into 3 phases of about 17 acres each. underneath a town bridge. This fishway, the second on the Long Island Sound Office, the Connecticut Department of sediments may be muddy to sandy and support important species, such as juvenile During each phase, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff used chainsaws and brush Eightmile River system, provides access to extensive spawning Society for Ecological Restoration W New York City Environmental Protection and the New York State Department of , clams, and . mowers to remove woody vegetation in the spring, then plowed and disked the and nursery habitat for various anadromous species including www.ser.org/definitions.htm Department of Environmental Conservation are taking lead responsibility for soil using standard farm tractors. Once the soil was properly prepared, a Atlantic salmon, alewife, blueback herring, and sea-run brown RIVERINE MIGRATORY CORRIDORS (RMC) are river systems that drain to the Sound. Parks and Recreation implementing the Initiative. specialized seed drill was used to plant a warm season grass mix. The principle trout. Association of State They are often bordered by flood plain trees and wetlands. Migratory species, such as species planted were little bluestem, big bluestem, indian grass, and switchgrass. Partners: CT DEP Fisheries Division (co-lead), Connecticut River Wetland Managers Atlantic salmon, shad, and herring use these rivers to travel to fresh waters miles away Restoration work on the site was completed in 2000, but annual mowing is W Audubon New York The work of the Initiative is implemented by the Habitat Watershed Council (co-lead), USDA Natural Resources www.aswm.org/wetlinks.htm anticipated to continue indefinitely. The project is expected to benefit grassland Restoration Workgroup, a group of technical staff with expertise in from Long Island Sound to spawn. Recreational and commercial fisheries benefit when Conservation Service, Lyme Land Conservation Trust, and nesting birds like the eastern meadowlark, raptors like the short-eared owl, and W Save the Sound, Inc. habitat restoration from all of the agencies and organizations listed river corridors remain healthy and passable to migratory fish. Connecticut Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership. Restore America’s small mammals like the eastern cottontail rabbit. Migrating monarch butterflies to the left. The following goals for habitat restoration were developed www.estuaries.org ROCKY INTERTIDAL ZONES (RI) are areas of exposed bedrock characterized by attached were observed using the site in the fall of 2001. by the Habitat Restoration Workgroup and adopted by the Policy species such as barnacles, algae, and mussels. These zones fall between extreme high- Partners: US Fish and Wildlife Service (lead), Town of Southold, Suffolk County National Marine Committee of the Long Island Sound Study: and low-tides, which results in frequent exposure of the plant and animal residents to Department of Parks and Recreation, US Environmental Protection Agency (grant ANADROMOUS FISH are those that spend the adult phase of their lives in salt water, but move Fisheries Service

the air. The species which attach themselves to this habitat help filter nutrients from the Restore the ecological functions of degraded and lost habitats award), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation up streams and rivers to spawn in freshwater. Barriers on coastal streams and rivers prevent www.nmfs.gov/habitat/

water, and are a food source for other marine species. these fish species from reaching their natural spawning habitat and reduces their reproductive success restoration/nspage.html Restore at least 2000 acres and 100 river miles of habitats between 1998 and 2008 SHELLFISH REEFS (SR) are formed by clusters of and blue mussels. The reef USDA Stream Corridor

structure sits on top of soft sediments and provides habitat and shelter for a variety of Use partnerships to accomplish the restoration objectives and Restoration Page other finfish and invertebrate species. The shellfish are able to filter algae and to leverage limited state, local, and federal funds TIDAL WETLAND RESTORATION www.usda.gov/stream_ particulate matter in the water column thereby improving water clarity. MADISON, CT TIDAL WETLAND RESTORATION restoration/ newgra.html Workgroup partners meet several times a year to set priorities, SUBMERGED AQUATIC VEGETATION (SAV) beds are comprised of rooted plants, such as A partnership Project Description: During the late 1950s, a portion of the OLD SAYBROOK, CT Save the Sound, Inc. discuss technical issues, and review work products. Each state has eelgrass and widgeon grass, which grow on shallow bay bottoms below the spring wetlands at Hammonasset State Park was used as a disposal www.savethesound. of concerned a habitat restoration coordinator who is funded by EPA and low-tide mark. These grassy beds provide vital refuge for juvenile fish and . The Project Description: This 17-acre restoration site was first area for sandy sediment that was dredged from nearby Clinton org/mb_habitat.htm coordinates the activities of the Habitat Restoration Workgroup. plants also trap sediments and use from the water column, thereby improving identified through a Coastal America partnership project with Harbor. Some of the filled wetland was converted to upland CT DEP and CT DOT. The investigation determined that the agencies and The coordinators are also responsible for assisting partner water quality. supporting grasses and red cedar, while part became degraded culvert connecting this wetland to the Oyster River was agencies, local government and other groups with habitat salt marsh. More recently, the invasive non-native genotype of Or contact the offices listed below: organizations TIDAL WETLANDS (TW) are the transitional zone between the land and submerged undersized and was causing a depression of the high water restoration issues relevant to the Sound. the plant common reed (Phragmites australis) colonized most of systems. These areas are dominated by rooted plants that are flooded by the tide. elevation by over one foot. CT DEP applied for Intermodal EPA Long Island Sound Office working the degraded wetland portions. Surface Transportation Efficiency Act funds through CT DOT for The Habitat Restoration Workgroup, in cooperation with the Healthy wetlands help trap sediments, store flood waters, and reduce wave energy Stamford Government Center Restoration of approximately 5 acres of tidal wetland was design and construction. The project consisted of the public and staff of concerned agencies, developed a database during storms. In addition, two thirds of all marine species depend on tidal wetlands for 888 Washington Blvd. together to accomplished through the removal of 1 to 3 feet of sandy installation of a second culvert (30” diameter) to complement of potential restoration sites, then ranked them in order to set a portion of their life cycle. Stamford, CT 06904-2152 dredged sediment. Four ponds were constructed and a network the flows through the existing (24” diameter) culvert. A new improve the 203-977-1541 in Connecticut restoration priorities for the partners in seeking funds and of meandering creeks was installed to provide adequate tidal concrete vault chamber was built to house an adjustable undertaking projects. A map listing the potential restoration 631-632-9216 in New York Sound for flushing. A portion of the excavated sands was placed and graded on the adjacent upland and then planted with slide/flap gate. The gate can be manually lowered in advance projects and their current status appears on the reverse side of HOW ARE SITES PRIORITIZED? warm season grasses, such as little bluestem. The restoration work was completed in 2000. The site now supports of a forecast coastal flood to minimize tidal flooding of www.epa.gov/region01/eco/lis the living this page. The projects are ranked based on ecological value, The Initiative partners developed ranking criteria based primarily on the potential marsh vegetation, and numerous egrets, shorebirds, and are using the ponds. low-lying properties. New York State Department of public benefit, and technical viability. The site ranking is used to ecological value of the degraded sites. Other factors, such as likelihood of success and Partners: US Fish & Wildlife Service, CT DEP Wetland Habitat and Mosquito Management, CT DEP Office of Long Partners: Funding for the project was provided by CT DOT’s ISTEA Enhancement Funds (80%) and CT DEP’s Long Environmental Conservation resources that help Habitat Restoration Workgroup members set funding and public benefits of the project, are taken into consideration as well. The site ranking list Island Sound Programs, EPA Long Island Sound Study and 319 Program, Ducks Unlimited, and Connecticut Island Sound Cleanup Account. Partners include the Town of Old Saybrook, CT DOT, EPA Long Island Sound Study, Bureau of Marine Resources staffing priorities for restoration projects within the is not the only criterion that determines the order in which projects are completed. depend on it. Waterfowlers Association. CT DEP OLISP and Inland Water Resources Management Division, and Coastal America. The project had the support 205 North Belle Meade Road; partner agencies. However, the Factors like available funding, local sponsors, and advanced project planning can make of all adjacent property owners. Suite 1 Workgroup will assist any concerned it much easier to complete a project, regardless of its rank. However, it is the site East Setauket, NY 11733 group or local government with ranking list which helps direct the Initiative partners’ efforts from year to year. The 631-444-0469 a restoration project, regardless ranking criteria are listed below. www.dec.state.ny.us of its rank. FRESHWATER WETLAND RESTORATION ECOLOGICAL CRITERIA: DUNE RESTORATION QUEENS, NY RYE, NY Connecticut Department of

Environmental Protection Size of the site to be restored Project Description: A natural glacial depression wetland in Forest Park was filled in 1966 to create two ball playing Project Description: A flood protection berm created in Edith Read Sanctuary Office of Long Island Sound

fields. The site hydrology made the ball fields prone to persistent flooding. In 2001, restoration of 6 acres of the site Benefits of the restoration to trust species following the December 1992 nor’easter had become dominated by

to freshwater wetland, and stabilization of the surrounding hillsides with native vegetation was completed. Programs Potential to restore ecological functions TRUST SPECIES are those Phragmites australis. The berm was converted to a coastal dune system by 79 Elm Street at the site species that are protected Partners: New York City the addition of clean sand and planted Ammophila breviligulata, and serves Hartford, CT 06106-5127

Department of Parks to enhance the educational opportunities at the site as well as to protect a Potential to restore a diverse plant and animal or managed by law, such as 860-424-3034 newly restored adjacent marsh from wave action. community at the site endangered and threatened and Recreation (lead), www.dep.state.ct.us species, managed fisheries, New York State Partners: Westchester County Department of Planning, Westchester County Department of OTHER CRITERIA CONSIDERED INCLUDE: and game mammals. Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation, and USDA Natural

Environmental Resources Conservation Service

Probability of success Conservation (grant)

Community support for project

Cost per acre of project

Public access opportunity and open space value of site Potential surface and groundwater improvements associated with project

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